There can be benefits to having two cats — IF the two cats are well matched in personality and have enough space to live together comfortably.
The positives:
- A pair of cats provide each other with exercise
- Two cats provide each other with social interaction
- Cats can provide each other with mental stimulation
- Cats may groom each other’s ears and coat
- Kittens or adolescents paired together can satisfy needs for play
- An adult female paired with a kitten or adolescent can teach the youngster better behavior
The negatives:
- Cats can take a very long time — as much as a year — to start getting along
- Adult cats need plenty of space — adults with a history of living alone will need a space where the other cat cannot bother them
- Two or more cats will need multiple litterboxes, which means more litter to buy and more cleaning to do — you should have one litterbox for each cat, plus one extra
- Timid cats may need to be fed separately from other cats
- A more aggressive personality may harass or stalk a more timid personality
Tips for helping your cats get along:
- Make sure each cat has a safe space to hide if they need to
- Make sure there are enough litterboxes
- Keep the cats in separate rooms and only let them interact at playtime and meal time — the cats will begin to associate positive things like treats and toys with being together
- Rub tuna juice on each cat’s head to encourage them to groom each other
- Be patient! It may take up to a year for them to work out their differences.
- Allow your cats to lead separate lives; don’t force them to interact if they want to be apart
- Your aggressive cat may need a mild sedative to help her calm down